Re: Can a 5058M push over mature yellow pines?

I did push over some smaller hardwoods first and a smallish branch did come down and hit the cab roof. Was quite loud actually. After that I got a lot more careful. I remember knocking over small trees with my 4700 open station tractor maybe 6 years back now, and I did have a largish branch come down and hit me on the head. My friend that was running the chain saw said I was out for a couple of minutes. He took me to the hospital to get my head stitched back up.

I don't plan to do any more trees like this, a large track hoe is coming on-site tomorrow to take down all the rest of the trees and excavate for the house that is being build on this lot. The reason I took down that one tree, is that I needed it to get a full load of lumber to take to the mill tomorrow morning.

I appreciate the warnings guys! I'm already on my second cab on this tractor, I don't plan to have it replaced again, let alone injure myself again like I did on my open station.

Re: Can a 5058M push over mature yellow pines?

I appreciate the warnings guys! I'm already on my second cab on this tractor, I don't plan to have it replaced again, let alone injure myself again like I did on my open station.

Yikes..! I guess I missed out on that story - 2nd cab. I had a pretty long - 6" limb come off the top of a big Aspen tree when I was takin' it down with the backhoe. The tree twisted and rolled off of another tree as it was falling and the limb came down on top of me and the hoe ROPS. No stitches... but if it weren't for the ROPS I might be watchin' movies all day and drool coming down my chin...

AKfish

"Most people want to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it."

Re: Can a 5058M push over mature yellow pines?

Curious... where's all the roots for that tree?? Just have a big taproot like a dandelion? Trees up here have all the roots in the top 18"-24" of dirt. Lateral roots branch out and form a big umbrella. Hard to push them over when the ground is soft 'cause the roots will extend back underneath the tractor, etc. and you end up with roots, dirts, under the engine pan and front differential, etc.

Different with a D-6, 8, 9. Just pile everything up into a big wad of windrows.

AKfish

"Most people want to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it."

Re: Can a 5058M push over mature yellow pines?

Most species of trees don't have a real tap root after they are saplings. All the roots are in those 18" thick umbrella mats you speak of. I once pushed over a twenty foot poplar tree with my 880 David brown 2WD and when the tree gave way the root mat came up between the front and rear wheels and left me high centered with three wheels off the ground. I had to saw off the tree at the stump working around the loader frame. Three saw chains later it settled back enough so I could get off it using the diff lock.

Re: Can a 5058M push over mature yellow pines?

I think that most of us that have pushed over a few trees have had some close-calls....or been hit by stuff. I've had both....and have pretty much stopped this practice. The tree has really gotta be a leaner for me to push on it...even then, it better have no branches that can get you. I always have a few dead pines that LOOK so tempting and easy to push.....those are the real widow-makers. Nothing like a barber-chair to put you into pucker mode.